Burke in Shoshone County, Idaho — The American West (Mountains)

Frisco Mill

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 9, 2018

1. Frisco Mill Marker

Inscription. During a gun war that broke out between company and union miners here, several boxes of dynamite were exploded shattering a four-story mill, July 11 1892
Overwhelmed by union miners, company managers surrendered. Six fatalities -- half from each side, preceded four months of martial law and military occupation by a thousand soldiers. A long series of battle followed. Resumed in North Idaho in 1899, this conflict continued in Colorado, Montana, Nevada and Arizona.

Erected by Idaho Department of Transportation. (Marker Number 424.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Labor Unions • Law Enforcement. A significant historical date for this entry is July 11, 1892.

Location. 47° 30.744′ N, 115° 51.564′ W. Marker is in Burke, Idaho, in Shoshone County. Marker is on Burke Canyon Creek Road (State Highway 4) near Yellow Dog Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3993 Burke Canyon Creek Road, Wallace ID 83873, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Burke (approx. 1.7 miles away); Wallace World War Memorial (approx. 4.1 miles away); Rossi Insurance Building (approx. 4.1 miles away); Historic Wallace South Hill Stairs

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(approx. 4.2 miles away); Hercules Mill (approx. 4.2 miles away); Wallace (approx. 4.2 miles away); "The Big Blowup" (approx. 4.2 miles away); a different marker also named "The Big Blowup" (approx. 4.2 miles away).

Also see . . . This Day in Labor History, July 11, 1892 -- Lawyers, Guns & Money. Conditions in the northern Idaho mining district were as bad as you’d expect in the 1890s. High number of deaths, endemic poverty, etc. In order to invest in new machinery, the mine owners wanted to cut costs. Naturally, they chose to make their lives of their workers more hellish. They demanded an increase in the work day from 9 to 10 hours, 7 days a week and with a pay cut on top of it. (Submitted on September 2, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Frisco Mill (ruins) and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 9, 2018

2. Frisco Mill (ruins) and Marker

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 9, 2018

3. Frisco Mill (ruins) and Marker

Photographed By Vintage Photograph, circa 1892

4. Frisco Mill

Credits. This page was last revised on October 6, 2018. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 422 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 2, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.